While officiating at the 17th Annual Diocesan celebrations of Kasana-Luweero Diocese on Sunday, the Katikkiro said unless parenting improves, irresponsible behaviour among the youth, including laziness is likely to continue eroding the fabric of Uganda’s citizenry.

“Any attempt to correct such vices at a later stage will be impossible, with disastrous consequences,” the Katikkiro said. “Parents have the obligation to ensure that children are brought up within acceptable norms of society that encourage discipline and respect. The increase in acts of criminality including corruption and laziness are as a result of our poor upbringing,” he added.

According to the Katikkiro, Luweero and many parts of Uganda have seen a growing culture of laziness with many people giving up on work; a factor that continues to keep many Ugandans in poverty.

Waiting for free things“You have the land to cultivate. Why do you wait to be given free things? This trend must change if we are to rebuild this country,” Mr Mayiga said. Bishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kasana-Luweero Diocesan said there has been an increase in murder cases, which threatens security in the area. “Some of the criminals are our own children but you are simply keeping quiet. We need to handle this problem,” he said.

Additionally Bishop Ssemogerere blamed parents for their contribution towards the decline in academic standards for both Primary and Secondary schools in Luweero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts.

“Many students are not provided with basic needs due to the fact that parents have abandoned their primary responsibility of providing for their children,” said Bishop Ssemogerere.

Decline in academic standards

According to Bishop Ssemogerere, parents should take the bigger blame for being a key contributor to the falling academic standards in both Primary and Secondary schools in the districts of Luweero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola. He says many students appear at school without basic scholastic needs including books and lunch because their parents have over the years continued to abandon their primary responsibility of providing for their children.